Combination kitchen utensil



Sept. 18, 1928'. 1,684,622

' F. P; HARKER COMBINATION KITCHEN UTENSIL Original Filed Feb. 18, 1926 Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,684,622 PATENT OFFICE."

FERRIS P. HAIIELKER, OF BRIDGETPORT, CONNECTICUT.

COMBINATION KITCHEN UTENSIL.

Application med February 18, 1926, Serial No. 89,166. j Renewed August 1, 1928,

This invention relates to a combination tool whichhas for its ObJGCt to provide a simple, practical, compact, and inexpenslve .device' which can be manufactured readily and is applicable to many different purposes. This device combines a large number of tools which are usually provided. separately for use about the household, and the article is so compact that it takes up no more room than lathe usual single tool. It is constructed in a simple manner whereby the various parts may, with few exceptions, be stamped from sheet metal and bent. into the desired shape. I Although the illustration and description disclose the preferred embodiment of the complete/tool, yet it is obvious that certain features maybe omitted withoutmodify-ing the action of certain other elements and various forms of the device may be made by varying the number of tools embodied in the complete device.

q Furtherobjects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description and will be set forth in the appended claims. 7

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is aside elevation of the complete tool, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same,

3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one end of. the device showing the P31118111 extendedv operative position, 7

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, and Fi 7 is'a perspective view of one of the elements of the tool detached. i

prise a handle A, an element B forming a portion-of a pan lifter and cap and lid remover, jaw elements C," a can-opening knife D, a member E Wl11Cl1 cooperates with the part B to form a pan lifter and cap and lid p5 arated by a very short distance. The elee m B i terme eta p eee 9? me al e Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section on the line The complete tool may be said tocoming members 5 connected'by a cross-bar 6 to form a substantially rectangular open member. At the other end the side portions 4 have similar downwardly extending parts 7 connectedby a cross-bar 8. which has a downwardly and outwardly turned projection 9. i 7

The elements 0 are two in number and sub s antially alike in form. .Each one has at its upper end an inward bond 9" which forms a shoulder, and they are then bent again to lie in planes parallel to the sides of the body of theeinember' C. These parallel portions 110 outside of the portions 1' of the mem- )erv The can-opening knife D has a pointed end I 11 and a beveled cutting edge 12. The shank of this member 'fits between the parallel portions 3 of the handle member A.

The member E is a sheet-metal member bent into the form shown in the-drawings and provided near each edge With'astamped rib 13 for the purpose of strengthening the construction thereof and also to give the tongue member a more positive grip on the curved side of a pot or pan in the clamping action of tongue E and member B. Near one end a tongue 14 is stamped out of the metal, the purpose of which will he hereinafter explained. Near the other end of the member E twoslits are made and the metal pressed out as indicated at 15, forming an opening through which passes a pivot 16, the ends of. which are riveted or otherwise fastened to the side or aw members G. The member thereby holdingall of these parts firmly together. A second rivet 20in front of the rivet 18 passes through all of the parts mentioned with the exception of the ends 10 of the jaws G. .This rivet passes through holes 21 in thesides 4: of-the elementB. Near the front end of the element B a stud or rivet 2.2 passenthrough holes 23 for the purpdsei of stifiem ing and strenghtening thiselement, this stud "washers 27. These disksaresomounted that their edges slightly overlap; semicircular cutouts'QS in the top of the sides of the handle A register with the overlapping portions of the disks 26 so that a knife may be drawn back and forth for sharpening purposes without interference from the handle.

The corkscrew F is fastened to onesidc ofthe handle by a rivet 29 passing through an eye 30 at one end of the corkscrew. The

"point 31' of the corkscrew bears against the opposite side of the handle with sufficient friction (combined with the friction at its pivot point) to retain the same in its inoperative position within said handle. When it is desired to use the corkscrew, it will be swung in thedirection of the arrow in Fig.

3 about its pivot29 into open position.

The cutting coring, and scraping member G is formed of a piece of sheet metal which.

has at one end side portions 32 adapted to embrace the outsides of the member A, and

ears 33 are folded over into engagement with the inside of these same side bars so that the memberGinay have a sliding movement back and forth on the handle member. The body of this member Gintermediate the side portions 32 is bent upwardly at 34 and alsoengages the inside of the sides of the handle.

This mounting permits the member G to be slid in either direction, and when extended in operative position as shown in Fig. 4, it is firmly held against any oscillating movement. When the member G is inextended position as shown in Fig. 4 and the cork- "screw is depressed to its closed position, the

point 31 of the corkscrew will lie against the bent-up portion 34 of the member Gand hold it firmly in its extended position. Also when the member G isin closed position and. the corkscrew is depressed to its inoperative position. the portion of the eye30 comes in such firm frictional contact with the bent-up por-' tion 34 of the member G that the part is held against any accidental displacement towards its operative position. This member G has'a cutting or scraping smooth edge 35, a serrated edge 36,a,sharp point 37 and a paring or scraping knife 38, formed by cutting a slit in the body of the niemberand pressing out the metalslightly on one side of the slit.

It is not believed to be necessary for the *purposes of understandingthe' invention to describe in detail the manner of its assembly.

It is. however, desirable to point out theman ner in which the complete tool is employed {for various fiili imseaf operation of the member G and the corkscrew F will-be apa parent from what has been said above. The mannerv ofnnsing' the'knife sharpener H is also clear since it is simply necessary to hold the tool firmlyagainst a support by one hand and draw the knife across the sharpening manner. W I r v p When it is desire'd t'o use the tool for hfting a pot or pamthe tool "is heid in thejhand in the position sliown in Fig. land the ,depending portions 5 ,with their connecting cross-bar 6 of the-element B is placed on the inside of the peter pan. The member E which may pivot to various positions'will then engage the outside of the pot or pan re gardless of its particular curvature. Itwill be found that if the outer end of the handle is pressed downwardly slightly, it is only necessary to lift the whole since the weight of the disks 26'with tl'ieother hand in the usual article being lifted will cause a clamping action between the portion of the member and parts 5 andB of the member B. It not necessary toexert any gripping action with thehand and the greater the weight of the utensil beingjlifted, the more' firmly will be held by the tool.

If it is desired toremoveia "bottle cap or vacuum lid from a jar, the tool is turned so that the member Erests upon the cap orlid while the lip 6 engages under the edge thereof. The handle is then moved in just the opposite direction to its movement when used asa pan lifter and the cap will be readily removed. V

The use of the can-opening knife D will be apparent to anyone who "has used can ,opem' ers of the usual character. a

The use of h the pressed-out prong 14 for removingthe paper tops from milk bottles, may be described as follows; When the parts are in the Fig. 3 position. the'hand of the. user is moved downward over the handle so that the little finger comes against the lefthand side of the member E, after which it will be obvious thatthe prong 14 maybe forced into the ily removed. a Y i It isobvious that certain of the featuresof this device may be used in slightlyvarying combinations and may be omitted without paper cap and the same readdirectly affecting'theoperation. of the other elements. The corkscrew and member- G can,

of course,be omitted without modifyingin any way the operation of the remaining elelments. It is tobe understood that the invention is in no way limited by the above. de-

tailed descri'ption of the complete tool in its preferred form, but that it comprisesall featurs and their equivalent swhic'h lie within thescope of the following claims. Iclaim as myinvention:

1. A combination tool comprising a body portion, a member attachedfthereto and. having a portion bent at an angle to the body, jaws carried by the body portion, and an element pivotally supported by said jaws and coacting with said bent portion to form a vessel litter and a cap remover.

2. A combination tool comprising a body portion, a member attached thereto and having a portion bent at an angle to the body, jaws carried by the body portion, and an element pivot-ally supported by said jaws and coaeting with said bent portion to form a vessel litter and a cap remover, said member having a projecting portion acting to stop the pivotal movement of said element in one direction.

3. A combination tool comprising a body portion having its sides terminating at one end in free portions, a member having sides fitting outside said free portions and having a portion bent at an angle to the body, jaws fitting outside the sides of said member, and common fastening means to secure together the body, the member, and the jaws.

4. A combination tool comprising a body portion having its sides terminating at one end in free portions, a member having sides fitting outside said free portions and having a. portion bent at an angle to the body, jaws fitting outside the sides of said member, common Iastening means 'to secure together the body, the member, and the jaws, and an element pivot-ally supported by said jaws'and coacting with said bent portion to form a vessel lifter and a cap remover.

In testimony whereof, I have hereuntosubscribed my name.

FERRIS P. HARKER, 

